TRAN Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities met in a televised session at 3:59 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Larry Miller, presiding.

By unanimous consent, Jeff Watson moved, — That the Committee conduct a study of rail safety when more findings of the Transportation Safety Board investigation into the disaster at Lac-Mégantic are available.

Debate arose thereon.

Olivia Chow moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “when more findings of the Transportation Safety Board investigation into the disaster at Lac-Mégantic are available” with the following: “immediately that examines:

a) The Transportation Safety Board recommendations on rail safety that the agency has not deemed fully satisfactory in terms of the actions taken by Transport Canada;

b) The December 2011 findings by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, for the Office of the Auditor General, on the transportation of dangerous goods;

c) if phasing out and replacement of unsafe tanker cars like the DOT-111/CTA-111A design is required.

That the Committee request that representatives from the Transportation Safety Board, the Office of the Auditor General, Transport Canada, rail companies and representatives of rail workers, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Honourable Minister of Transport appear before the Committee;

That the Committee request copies of the following documents from Transport Canada: the General Operating Instructions and other Safety Management System and audit documents for all Transport Canada-licensed freight rail operators;

That this study be conducted throughout August and September of 2013, and a report of this study be prepared and reported to the House in October 2013; and

That, when more findings of the Transportation Safety Board investigation into the disaster at Lac-Mégantic are available, the Committee conduct a second part of this rail safety study and report its findings to the House”.

At 4:26 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:27 p.m., the sitting resumed.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible as it introduces a new proposition which should properly be the subject of a substantive motion with notice, as provided on page 533 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Second Edition.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

By unanimous consent, Olivia Chow moved, — That the Committee immediately commence a study of the situation of rail safety in Canada, specifically, but not exclusively, examining:

a) The Transportation Safety Board recommendations on rail safety that the agency has not deemed fully satisfactory in terms of the actions taken by Transport Canada;

b) The December 2011 findings by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, for the Office of the Auditor General, on the transportation of dangerous goods;

c) if phasing out and replacement of unsafe tanker cars like the DOT-111/CTA-111A design is required.

That the Committee request that representatives from the Transportation Safety Board, the Office of the Auditor General, Transport Canada, rail companies and representatives of rail workers, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Honourable Minister of Transport appear before the Committee;

That the Committee request copies of the following documents from Transport Canada: the General Operating Instructions and other Safety Management System and audit documents for all Transport Canada-licensed freight rail operators;

That this Study be conducted throughout August and September of 2013, and a report of this study be prepared and reported to the House in October 2013; and

That, when more findings of the Transportation Safety Board investigation into the disaster at Lac-Mégantic are available, the Committee conduct a second part of this rail safety study and report its findings to the House”.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Robert Aubin, Olivia Chow, Pierre Nantel, Jean Rousseau — 4; NAYS: Mark Adler, Joe Daniel, Ed Holder, David J. McGuinty, Costas Menegakis, Lawrence Toet, Jeff Watson — 7.

At 5:29 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.